Chapter 71.1

He kissed her cheek and carefully massaged her thin arms and legs. Her skin was so soft, that whenever he held her twig of an ankle, he felt the urge to pounce on her again.

Claude played with Canillia’s hair as she was curled up sound asleep. He caressed her nose and kissed her lips. She flinched in her sleep, pushed him, and whined to stop as if she were dreaming. Claude smiled faintly and then looked her up and down. She didn’t look like a man in any way. It was hard to believe that she was able to fool him and everyone else.

“It would’ve been better if you had looked pretty in my eyes.”

He touched her lips and parted them. His finger touched her teeth—the teeth that had bit him to tell him it hurt. He slowly ran his finger along her teeth, opened her mouth and felt her soft, wet tongue.

Although still sleeping, she chewed on his finger. His patience wavered. He wanted more of her, but recalled he had been all over her throughout the night. Claude sighed and gently put his lips on hers so that she wouldn’t wake up. It was when his large hand brushed her thigh that she stirred.

“Stop, sir. I’m tired.”

“Call my name.”

“How can I—”

“Now.”

She started to sweat. She was hesitant to call his name and it affected him adversely. Claude lay on top of Lia, pressing on her, kissing her as she struggled beneath him. She was barely able to close her legs and whined that this was unfair.

“It feels odd.”

“For feeling odd—”

“Sir!”

“Say my name.”

She blushed and closed her sleepy eyes while moving her lips.

It was just a name. He longed to hear her say his name, to give him what he wanted—the feeling he hoped for. Claude bit different parts of her body as if punishing her and worked his way down beyond her bellybutton.

Lia, surprised, finally screamed out his name.

“Claude!”

His lips drew a curve.

Claude seemed quite satisfied and kissed her young skin passionately. She finally relaxed, but looked away from him.

“Do you know what It means to become the clematis?”

“I heard something about it, but—”

Claude held her hands down on the sheet and looked into her eyes. There she was. Her honey-colored hair spread out on the sheet, red marks on her skin, his scent on her. Everything was satisfying. Satisfying? No, that word couldn’t describe how he felt.

“Canillia.”

Their bodies slowly came together. His craving was such that he would swallow this woman if he could. Before he dove into her, he whispered, “To become the clematis means that both my body and my heart become yours.”

It also means that you are mine.

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Claude didn’t actually say the second part. How would she react to that? He buried himself in her and gazed into her green eyes as their hot bodies locked together.

The snow piled on the windowsill. The only sounds were of the wind rattling the windowpanes and two lovers moaning with excitement and heat.

This was the seventh winter he remembered.

***

“Really?” said Rosina as she looked up at Baron Tenan in surprise.

“I personally confirmed this. The Grand Duke is with Sir Canillian.”

“That’s good. I can finally relax,” Rosina said, as she smiled and looked at the snacks that the Baron had brought—cookies and cake that she had ordered for Canillia.

She was worried that Canillia had disappeared from the ball without fully enjoying it, but Claude had gone to find Canillia before she did.

Rosina turned around looking satisfied and then went to Kieran, who was sitting glumly by the fireplace.

“Sir.”

Kieran, with a wound on his lips, asked to find Canillian. He said that he wasn’t allowed into the Princess’s Cottage Palace. He looked desperate.

Rosina sat by Kieran and clasped her hands together.

“Have you heard? Lia is okay, so don’t worry.”

“She’s not okay, Princess. She’s just a child. But—”

“No. Lia is an adult—the same age we were upon our engagement. Lia is a lady who will be the Duke’s clematis. Please stop worrying like a big brother.”

Even so, Kieran buried his face in his hands looking defeated. Lia was still a small, beautiful child to him. He cherished her so much that he didn’t want to give her away.

Also, there was still Prince Ian Sergio’s marriage proposal to consider.

The Marquis hadn’t yet accepted it, but to have a relationship with the Grand Duke even before officially rejecting the marriage proposal, just wasn’t done.

“Lots of things will change once the war is over,” Ian had written. “The Empire will gain wealth and I will gain her.”

Three years ago, Ian had already foreseen that a war would break out, that the King of Geore would change, and that the Empire would be victorious.

But one thing Ian Sergio would never have guessed is the relationship between Canillia and Claude.

If Baron Tenan had spoken the truth, then Canillia is already the Grand Duke’s lady.

If Claude refused the right to the mine, then even the Emperor wouldn’t be able to easily force a decision on him. On the other hand, there would be a crisis in the Empire.

Factions will take sides to form another round of allies and enemies.

Kieran rubbed his mouth where he was hit by Claude.

What kind of bruise did Canillia have that made the Grand Duke so angry?